Petersburg Creek is located across the Wrangell Narrows from Petersburg within the Petersburg Creek–Duncan Salt Chuck Wilderness. During high tide, approximately 4 to 6 miles of the creek can be accessed by boat for birding depending upon the size of the tide. Contact the Chamber of Commerce for transporter or charter boat services that can take you up the creek or across the Wrangell Narrows to the trailhead located near the Kupreanof dock. Be aware that the first quarter mile of trail passes through private land. Please stay on the trail and be considerate of the homeowners’ privacy.

For those preferring to sea kayak, the creek is easily accessible from town with a short paddle across the Wrangell Narrows. Either bring your kayak or contact the Chamber of Commerce for information regarding a guided trip or possibly renting a kayak. Most kayakers head across about two hours before high tide. You can ride the incoming tide up the creek and then ride the outgoing tide back to town on your return. The estuary goes dry at low tide except for a shallow creek channel. The Petersburg Lake trail follows Petersburg Creek for 10.3 miles to Petersburg Lake. This is a wilderness trail and portions require good navigation skills to follow the route. A Forest Service cabin is at the lake and available for use by reservation.

This beautiful and easily accessible estuary hosts a variety of waterfowl, gulls, occasional Arctic Terns, and raptors. Migratory shorebirds use the area in May and again when migrating south in late summer. The highest concentrations of gulls and shorebirds occur during low tide when the tide flat is exposed. A sizable grass flat begins about 2 miles up from the Wrangell Narrows and is covered with wildflowers in June, as well as providing food for grazing black bears during spring green up. The area provides habitat for a wide variety of upland bird species; watch for Savanah Sparrows, American Pipits, Violet-green Swallows, and a host of warblers. Listen for the calls of Pacific-slope Flycatchers and Sooty Grouse calling from the old-growth forest.

Directions:

At high tide (15 feet or higher), boaters can access 4 miles of Petersburg Creek to the high tide trailhead accessing Petersburg Lake.

Trail Information:

•  US Forest Service: Petersburg Lake Trail

Birding Resources:

•  eBird Hotspot: None

Bird Species Checklist:

• Petersburg checklist

Other Resources:

• US Forest Service: Petersburg Lake Cabin 
• US Forest Service: Petersburg Lake Cabin Online Reservation